Ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council

Boehner is an alumnus of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), being a member when he was an Ohio State Representative from 1985-1990. During the time that he was Education and Workforce Committee Chairman, ALEC began a new alumni forum for former members who serve in public office, called the "ALEC Alumni Forum." It was launched in 2001 and is "charged with developing a national forum to encourage improved communications among current and former ALEC members. Alumni Forum activities will include special investigations and speaking engagements at major ALEC events, and joint policy members with state and national leaders. . . . Through the Alumni Forum program, ALEC will seek the support of its former members in the development of reforms that reflect the principles of the organization at all levels of government."[2]

About ALEC

ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our PRWatch.org site.

Healthcare reform

Following the end of an almost four hour debate on H.R.4872, Boehner took the floor and proclaimed, acknowledging likely passage, that he had a "sad and heavy heart." He said "no one in this body" believes the bill is satisfactory and argued "we have failed to listen to America, and we have failed to reflect the will of our constituents." "Shame on each and every one of you who substitutes your will and your desires above those of your fellow countrymen," said Boehner. He grew agitated when asking rhetorical questions about the impact of the bill, asking members if they could really promise their constituents that it would not have a variety of consequences: "Do you really believe that if you like the health plan that have that you can keep it? No you can't," he said [1]. For a transcript and video of the full speech, please see this link on Boehner's website.

Similarly, on March 20, 2010 (the day before passage of the bill), Boehner used similar scare tactics and called the next 24 hours "armageddon" because the healthcare bill proposed by Democrats will "ruin our country." [2]

In an appearance on Meet the Press on March 21, 2010, Boehner stated that stoppage of the healthcare reform bill was necessary because it would "ruin our economy, ruin our healthcare system, the best healthcare system in the world." Boehner went on: "We've got the best healthcare system in the world, and we're about to take this dangerous step, very dangerous step toward the government running the whole thing. That's not what the American people want." Please see this link for a full transcript of the episode, including House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer's responses.

Statements and action on the Iraq war

Statements made by John Boehner:

January 23, 2007: "I think it'll be rather clear in the next sixty to ninety days as to whether this plan's going to work." [4]

2007 Iraq spending bill

After the first Iraq supplemental spending bill, which included a timetable for troop withdrawal, passed the House in March 2007 in a 218-212 vote, Boehner, an opponent of the bill, stated "We have our moment of truth...We have our opportunity to do what our forefathers have done, and that's to stand up, support our troops and to win, because the outcome of failure is actually too ominous to even think about." The Minority Leader then sent a letter to President Bush signed by 154 House members indicating that they would sustain his veto of the Iraq supplemental spending bill. The letter cited arbitrary restrictions on the military leaders and excess pork-barrel projects.

Iraq benchmarks

On March 27, 2007, clips of Boehner, contradicting himself regarding Iraqi benchmarks, appeared on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. These clips portrayed Boehner's opposition to the benchmarks included in the Iraq spending bill that passed the House by a vote of 218-212 on March 23, 2007. The video also revealed Boehner, two weeks earlier, calling Iraqi benchmarks "good." [3][4]

Benchmarks "ensure failure"

Boehner's disapproval of the benchmarks was exemplified during the clip which captured his use of the term "failure" to describe them. These milestones, as put forth in the bill, established standards for "resting, training and equipping combat troops before their deployment; additionally, the House bill contained binding benchmarks for the Iraqi government, such as assuming control of security operations, quelling sectarian violence and more equitably distributing oil revenue." [5]

Boehner's response to the House on the passage of the bill included, "We have our moment of truth... We have our opportunity to do what our forefathers have done, and that's to stand up, support our troops and to win, because the outcome of failure is actually too ominous to even think about." [6]

Benchmarks are "very good"

The Daily Show clip capturing Boehner's expression that benchmarks are "good" just two weeks prior to his stance that benchmarks would "ensure failure" could perhaps be traced back to January 23, 2007, when Boehner said on CNN that he supported benchmarks for Iraqis and a timeline of “60 to 90 days” for the escalation to work. Likewise, Boehner clarified further on Meet the Press, in his response to President Bush's "Iraq plan" that, "We want to offer a resolution that makes it clear that we ought to have a bipartisan panel overseeing this plan, and we outline a series of benchmarks to see how well we’re doing... This plan is heavily dependent on the Iraqis stepping up and taking more responsibility for their own country... And I think that having these benchmarks and being able to follow the progress is very important." [7][8] (Watch Boehner)

Boehner v. McDermott

On Monday, June 26, 2006, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Colubmia stated that they will hear McDermott’s appeal of a case about an illegally recorded taped telephone conversation told to reporters by Rep Jim McDermott.

In March, the appeals court ruled that McDermott violated federal law by releasing a taped conversation taking place in 1996 of former House Speaker, Newt Gingrich, R-Ga. According to the Boston Globe, “The 2-1 opinion upheld a lower court ruling that McDermott violated the rights of Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who was heard on the 1996 call.”[9]

Boehner hands out 'tobacco checks' on floor of House

In late June of 1995 then-GOP Conference Chairman John Boehner handed out "about a half-dozen" checks from the political action committee of tobacco company Brown & Williamson Corp. to fellow Republicans on the floor of the House.

Boehner's chief of staff Barry Jackson stated, "We were trying to help guys who needed to get their June 30th numbers up, their cash-on-hand numbers up. All leadership does this. We have to raise money for people and help them raise money."

Boehner was forced to stop handed out the checks when two freshmen Republicans, "appalled by it," confronted him and voiced their displeasure. Boehner's reaction was one of tempered apology, "I thought, 'Yeah, I can imagine why somebody would be upset. It sure doesn't look good.' It's not an excuse, but the floor is the only place you get to see your colleagues. It was a matter of convenience. You make a mistake, admit it and go on. I just feel bad about it." (Associated Press, 5/10/96)

Sallie Mae and For-Profit Schools

The single largest contributor to Boehner's leadership PAC since 1989 is Sallie Mae, the student lending giant, with contributions totaling $122,000.[10]

Boehner, until his recent ascension to the Majority Leader post, was the chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. In this position Boehner was able to oversee and push issues favorable to the student loan industry, including Sallie Mae. Boehner recently championed a bill that would "soften [proposed] cuts to lenders" and "deal a serious blow to the competing direct-loan program."[11] The direct-loan program provides loans directly to students through their school, rather than through private lenders and banks. The bill also sought to prevent students from consolidating their loans.

According to The New Republic, "Several GAO and CBO studies have found that the direct-lending program costs taxpayers much less than extending loans through lenders like Sallie Mae. Government watchdogs have estimated that every dollar loaned through these middlemen costs the federal government at least 9 cents."[12]

Prior to pushing the bill, which was eventually passed and signed by President Bush, Boehner delivered this comforting message to the Consumer Bankers Association, "Know that I have all of you in my two trusted hands. I've got enough rabbits up my sleeve to be able to get where we need to."[13]

Boehner has "[o]n several occassions ... been a guest of Albert L. Lord, Sallie Mae's chief executive officer, on the corporate jet, primarily for golf outings in Florida. The company also helped sponsor a party that Mr. Boehner threw in New York at the 2004 Republican National Convention."[14]

Boehner's leadership PAC has also received a large amount of money from for-profit schools, who have gained from Boehner's chairmanship of the Education and Workforce Committee. From 2003-2004 Boehner's PAC received $102,000 from for-profit schools.[15]

The for-profit school industry has suffered a number of scandals recently. The largest for-profit, the University of Phoenix, "was fined $9.8 million by federal regulators who concluded it was so focused on boosting enrollment that it pressured recruiters to accept unqualified students."[17]

Abramoff connection

Boehner, Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, "received $32,500 in political contributions from Indian tribes represented by fallen lobbyistJack Abramoff, placing him in the top tier of lawmakers who got donations from the lobbyist or his clients," Michael Collins reported in the January 5, 2006, Cincinnati Post.

"In all, 17 current and former members of Congress from Ohio and Kentucky received campaign donations from either Abramoff or one of the tribes he represents," Collins wrote, with Boehner leading "the pack, taking in even more money than Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who has become one of the central figures in the political corruption investigation that brought Abramoff down. Ney received $31,500 in donations from Abramoff and his clients - $1,000 less than Boehner, the report said."

"Boehner, for example, did not get any political contributions directly from Abramoff, but his political-action committee did get money from four tribes represented by the lobbyist, the report said.

"The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana gave $15,000 to Boehner's leadership PAC, the Freedom Project. The other contributions came from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, which gave $9,500; the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which donated $7,000; and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, which gave $1,000. Boehner chairs the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and is said to be considering a run for House majority leader," Collins wrote.

According to the Post, John Milne, the owner of the rented property, was hired by Fortis Health Plans to lobby on the Economic Security and Worker Assistance Act, which was co-authored by Boehner. Milne has also been hired to lobby on minimum wage increases and tax credits for tips, both issues overseen by the Education and Workforce Committee. Milne denies ever lobbying Boehner directly.

Tom Edsall, the Post author, writes: "The relationship between Boehner, John D. Milne and Milne's wife, Debra R. Anderson, underscores how intertwined senior lawmakers have become with the lobbyists paid to influence legislation."[18]

Actions as majority leader

On July 15, the New York Times reported that Boehner had raised campaign contributions at a rate of $10,000 per day since becoming House Majority Leader in February 2006. [19] Boehner's Freedom Project collected $759,238 from February through June 2006, Federal Election Commission figures show. In comparison, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority raised $688,511 during those same months in 2004. [20]

His biggest donors were the political action committees of lobbying firms, drug and cigarette makers, banks, health insurers, oil companies, military contractors, and Native American tribes. Despite high scrutiny on congressional trip-taking, Boehner flew to a golf resort in Boca Raton, Florida in March 2006 for a convention of commodities traders, who have contributed more than $100,000 to his campaigns and are currently lobbying against a proposed tax on futures transactions.

In addition, Boehner’s campaign committees hired two people in 2006 from the financial and insurance industry’s lobbying wing. One of the hires, Amy Hobart, worked for Boehner before becoming political affairs manager at the Bond Market Association. The group has contributed $50,000 to Boehner and once lobbied for his legislation aimed at loosening investment restrictions on pension fund managers. [21]

On September 29, Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) announced his resignation from the House following the public revelation of "over-friendly" emails and sexually suggestive instant messages he had sent teenage congressional pages. Following the announcement, Boehner contradicted himself several times regarding his previous knowledge of the emails, as well as if and when he contacted House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) regarding the matter.

Civil suit

In 1998, Boehner filed suit against Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wa.) for disclosing to the press an "illegally intercepted" cell phone call involving Boehner and other Republican leaders.[5] In April 2008, a federal judge ordered McDermott to pay nearly $1.2 million in penalties and legal fees to Boehner, settling the decade-long legal dispute between the two gentlemen.[6]

Flight compensation

In March 2007, a liaison from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) met with Minority Leader Boehner's office in order to amend the House rules regarding compensation for Congressional air travel. The rules were changed in January, requiring Congressmen to pay non-commercial aircraft owners the full price of a ticket, which the FAA rules prohibit. While this has prevented Members from using lobbyists aircraft, it also grounded several personal aircraft amongst Democratic and Republican Lawmakers. Pelosi was attempting to change the rules via voice-vote, (which required unanimous consent) but Boehner has refused to consider "piecemeal changes" and was holding out for other Rules changes regarding earmarks.

Eventually, on May 2 2007, the House voted by voice vote on H.R.363 to remove airplane travel restrictions. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Rep. Samuel Graves (R-Mo.). The new rules allow members to fly in a friend's airplane for free. The rules change also provides that members who are certified pilots may again fly their own aircraft.

Budget

In January 2007, when Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating for the remainder of the 2007 fiscal year, the bill effectively stripped earmarks which had been inserted into House spending bills in 2006 (which were not passed by the Senate). The funds which would have gone towards earmarks were instead allotted to federal agencies, who would then have the power to determine how the funds would be spent. In response, Minority Leader Boehner stated:

“I have consistently stated that Republicans are eager to work with Democrats for the good of the country we were all elected to serve, but that we will hold them accountable for their promises at the same time. Democrats promised this massive spending bill would be earmark-free, but then gave us a bill that includes hundreds of millions of dollars worth of funding for earmarked pork projects. And it is clear that the best interests of the American people – transparency and accountability – were not a priority for Democrats when they crafted this massive spending bill…Republicans offered a common sense proposal to slash hundreds of millions of dollars from earmarks the Democrats overlooked and use those funds to pay for critically-needed housing for military families, to restore funding for the fight against methamphetamine abuse, and to reduce the federal budget deficit. It’s unfortunate Democrats decided to break their pledge on earmarks at the expense of these higher priorities. The majority’s decision is out of step with the priorities of the American people.”

As Minority Leader, Boehner was heavily involved in the June 2007 debate over the FY2008 appropriations bills. House Republicans argued for greater transparency with earmarks in the bills. After having successfully stalled passage of the budget measures and attempting to come to an agreement, on June 14, Boehner and Republican negotiators claimed a victory at a press conference, but House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) called the GOP announcement premature and purely political. By that evening, however, a final deal had been forged by Majority Leader Hoyer, Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.), and Minority Leader Boehner. The agreement still allowed the Homeland Security and Military Construction bills, which typically include few earmarks, to move to conference committee without earmarks, where they would then be added. The remaining 10 appropriations bills, however, would list their earmarks up front, and any earmarks later added in conference would be allowed to come up on the House floor upon final consideration.

Ethics reform

On February 1, 2007, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Boehner announced the creation of a "task force" to study implementation of an outside ethics body to oversee Congress. The task force, chaired by Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), issued it's report to the House in May 2007.

House delegate voting rights

On January 24, 2007, after Democrats took control of the House following the 2006 congressional elections, a rule change was again passed providing delegates and the resident commissioner with limited voting rights. The change allowed delegates and the resident commissioner (4 of 5 of whom were Democrats) to vote on the House floor in the "Committee of the Whole," whereby bills are debated and amendments are added. The rule, however, stipulated that if a delegate's vote was decisive, the committee would disband and a new vote would be taken without the non-voting members.[7]

House Minority Leader Boehner called it, “An outrageous grab of power by the majority,” while Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) argued it amounted to, “Representation without taxation.”[8]

August 2007 House voting controversy

When controversy erupted following a contested vote on the FY2008 agriculture appropriations bill on August 2, 2007, Boehner at first attempted to work with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), both agreeing to initiate some sort of investigation into the affair. However, Boehner was persuaded by more conservative members of his party and the Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) to peruse confrontation with the Democrats through procedural tactics. Boehner was able to pass, with Democratic support, a resolution creating a select committee to investigate the August 2 contested vote, but was blocked, however, when he tried to bring a vote on a resolution to rebuke Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) for his actions regarding the issue while presiding over the House. Democrats successfully tabled that resolution, with Majority Leader Hoyer stating "enough is enough" in response to the GOP's actions. Boehner expressed outrage that such a statement did not initiate an hour of debate over the resolution, as House rules would have required. Democrats claimed that the presiding chair had not recognized the Majority Leader, and therefore his remarks were not a part of the official record.

Condemnation of MoveOn.org advertisement

Before the September 10 testimony of General David Petraeus, MoveOn.org bought a full-page newspaper ad with a caption “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” The ad sought to portray Petraeus's testimony as motivated by politics rather than the truth.[9]

Boehner introduced a resolution to condemn the advertisement, saying “The despicable attack MoveOn.org launched against General Petraeus today should be condemned by all Members of Congress, including the Democratic leadership. I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to join in support of this resolution so the House speaks with one voice rejecting the character assassination tactics employed by this extremist group.”[10]

Bio

Early life

Boehner (pronounced bay-ner) was born November 17, 1949 in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Moeller High School and received a bachelor of science degree from Xavier University (Cincinnati) in 1977 and worked as a businessman.

Boehner grew up as one of twelve children in Reading, a neighborhood in Cincinnati. He started working at his father Earl Boehner's cafe, inexplicably called Andy's Cafe, mopping and cleaning up. Boehner remembers, "This was the cleanest place you've ever seen. If the floor wasn't clean, you had to do it over again."

In 1969 Boehner graduated from high school and joined the Navy. He was given an honorable discharge after only six weeks when it was discovered that he had back problems. He then took on a number of odd jobs to pay his way to a degree in business administration at Xavier. He graduated from Xavier in 1977, a year after taking over a plastic packaging business, Nucite Sales Inc. (Cincinnati Post, March 12, 1995)

Political career

In 1981 Boehner served on the board of trustees of Union Township, Butler County, Ohio. In 1984, he served as president of the township board of trustees.

Boehner served as an Ohio state representative from 1985 to 1990. In 1990, when U.S. Rep. Donald "Buz" Lukens (R-Ohio) was caught in a sex scandal involving a minor, Boehner challenged Lukens in the Republican primary and defeated the incumbent, while also upsetting the district's former representative, Tom Kindness, who Boehner declared had abandoned his district to become a lobbyist. Boehner went on to victory in the 1990 general election and began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives the 102nd Congress.

Gang of Seven

He was a member of the Gang of Seven, a group of seven freshmen Republicans who assailed the Democratic leadership with accusations of corruption and arrogance over the misuse of the House Bank. According to a 1992 San Francisco Chronicle article the Gang "set the match to the bank scandal that has now engulfed the House, blackened its leadership and sparked a 'spontaneous political combustion' that many analysts say will fuel a record turnover in Congress." (San Francisco Chronicle, 3/30/02)

Boehner told the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "I came as a reformer. But when people in charge don't want to reform - the only way...is revolution." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 2/15/93)

The banking scandal involved 355 members, Democrats and Republicans, writing 8,331 overdrafts to the bank. The Gang pounced on the issue and forced the Democrats into a corner and eventually led to the tidal wave Republican Revolution of 1994.

When Newt Gingrich resigned his post as Speaker in the wake of the GOPs loss of seats in the 1998 election Boehner's leadership post was challenged by J.C. Watts, the only black Republican congressman. Boehner lost to Watts 121-93.

Boehner has also been a strong supporter of school vouchers for private and religious schools and helped to push through the school voucher program for the District of Columbia.

Boehner has repeatedly tried to get a pension reform bill, favored by business leaders, passed by Congress. It has passed the House multiple times, but has consistently failed in the Senate.

Majority Leader

Boehner was elected House Majority Leader on February 2, 2006, following Tom DeLay's departure because of a criminal indictment.

There was brief controversy on the first ballot for Majority Leader. The first count showed more votes cast than Republicans present at the Conference meeting.[22] However, this turned out to be due to a misunderstanding on whether or not Congressman Luis Fortuño was allowed to vote on leadership. [23]

Boehner campaigned as a reform candidate who could help the House Republicans cleanse and recover from the political damage caused by charges of ethics violations, corruption and money laundering leveled against prominent conservatives such as DeLay and disgraced lobbyistJack Abramoff, in spite of his own ties to Abramoff.

He bested fellow candidates Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona, even though he was considered an underdog candidate to House Majority Whip Blunt. It was the most contested election among House Republicans since 1998. Boehner received 122 votes compared to 109 by Blunt in a run-off vote. Rep. Shadegg dropped out of the race after a loss in the first round of voting and his supporters backed Boehner.

Blunt kept his previous position as Majority Whip, the No. 3 leadership position in the House. Boehner has a strong pro-business reputation but the social conservatives in the GOP are questioning his commitment to their values. According to the Washington Post "From illegal immigration to sanctions on China to an overhaul of the pension system, Boehner, as chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, took ardently pro-business positions that were contrary to those of many in his party. Religious conservatives -- examining his voting record -- see him as a policymaker driven by small-government economic concerns, not theirs..... [He opposes] a tough illegal immigration bill that passed in December [2005] with overwhelming Republican support over Boehner's opposition. One provision in the bill would mandate that every business verify the legality of every employee through the federal terrorism watch list and a database of Social Security numbers. For the bill's authors, the measure is central to choking off illegal immigrants' employment opportunities. To business groups and Boehner, it is unworkable." Feb 12, 2006

Boehner has since backtracked on his reform platform, stalling on lobbying and ethics reform proposals put forward by Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA). Boehner stated on "Fox New Sunday" that Congress may be overreacting to the current lobbying scandal and voiced his opposition to a proposed congressional travel ban and a ban of earmark projects. The Washington Post writes that Boehner's ascension to the Majority Leader post "make[s] it less likely that the more far-reaching proposals to restructure lobbying will become law."[24] Boehner called the travel ban proposal "childish" in another interview.

Boehner is one of the top recipients of private travel, ranking 7th out of 638 members and former members at American Radio Works Power Trips.[25] His trip totals cost $157,603.85.

2006 elections

The Democrats nominated Mort Meier to challenge Boehner in the 2006 congressional elections. Boehner defeated Meier, receiving 64% of the vote. [26] As a result of the Democrats winning the House in the elections, Boehner lost his post of majority leader. He was elected minority leader for the 110th Congress.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00003675&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for John Boehner
from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.

More on Boehner's campaign finance

Coal contributions

In late October 2010, during the lead up to the Congressional midterm elections, The New York Times reported that the political action committee of Representative John Boehner of Ohio, who is in line to become speaker if Republicans capture the House, has received more than $300,000 from mining interests, most of it from coal companies. The industry is counting on Mr. Boehner to reverse the current Democratic leadership's refusal to allow a vote on the measure blocking E.P.A. carbon regulation.[11]

In September 2011, the Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. coal companies "have pumped $1.5 million into House Speaker John Boehner's political operation this year, a sign of the industry's beefed-up efforts to fight new and proposed regulations from the Obama administration." Donations from coal-industry interests account for more than 10% of the $12.5 million Boehner collected from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2011. One top donor to Boehner was William I. Koch, brother of the Koch Brothers and president of Oxbow Corporation, which owns the Elk Creek Mine in western Colorado. Koch and his wife contributed a total of $70,000 to Boehner.[12]